Penguin Australia, 2013. ISBN 9780143308089.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. I have no doubt that there were some
furtive sidelong glances from my fellow commuters on the train as I
chuckled my way through the latest of the Diary of a wimpy kid
books - Hard luck.
There is something about the hapless Greg Heffley that strikes a
chord with thousands of fans, including me (perhaps because he
sometimes puts me in mind of Frank Spencer, Some mothers do 'ave
'em).
In this latest episode from the continuing comedy that is Greg's
life, our poor anti-hero finds himself without his lifelong friend
Rowley because - shock! Rowley has a girlfriend with whom he is
totally besotted. No one to carry his heavy bag of books, no one to
give out dog poo warnings, no one to deflect the feral forest thugs
and certainly no one to hang out with. Greg discovers that making
new friends in middle school is a difficult if not impossible ask.
Fed up with what he sees as wrong decisions being made about his
life and the subsequent disastrous consequences, Greg takes fate in
a firm grip and starts placing all his choices with the answer given
by a 'Magic 8' ball. Naturally, this does not go according to plan!
Amongst many hilarious scenes from the book, my undoubted favourite
is Greg hiding out in his mother's wardrobe and uncovering a 'secret
stash' hidden away - no, not what you might think at all! This
carefully hoarded cache is a collection of parenting books, from
which Greg recognises many techniques used by his mum along with
multiples of his favourite toy - in case of disaster with the
original (or is that no longer the original?).
This book is highly recommended for readers, both boys
and girls, 10 and up - and as with all the Diary of a wimpy kid books,
a great choice for reluctant readers.
Sue Warren
Yikes, stinkysaurus! By Pamela Butchart and Sam Lloyd
Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408837078.
(Age: 3-6) Dinosaurs. Humour. Smells. Baths. Stinkysaurus is the
scariest of all the dinosaurs because he doesn't take a bath and he
scares away everyone with his awful smell. The other dinosaurs can
smell him wherever he goes and he has no friends. When the dinosaurs
decide that enough is enough and give him a bath Stinkysaurus finds
that he now has friends to play with.
Young children will love the rhyme and alliteration in this story
which is a good one to read aloud. The repetition of the words,
'Yikes, stinkysaurus!' provide an opportunity for children to leap
in with a refrain and the potty humour is sure to be a big hit with
the young set. Adult readers can make a plug for the joys of having
a bath, but really the story is just a lot of fun.
Children who are obsessed with dinosaurs will be able to pick out
the different types, even though they are coloured in very bright
blues, oranges and pinks. Beginning readers would also be able to
read along to the rhyme after they had heard the story a couple of
times.
Sure to be a bedtime favourite with children who are obsessed with
dinosaurs, this is a hilarious story that is likely to become a
favourite.
Pat Pledger
Secret by Brigid Kemmerer
Elemental, bk 4. Kensington Teen, ISBN 9780758294371.
(Age 14+) Recommended. Paranormal. Gay and lesbian themes. Nick
Merrick's element is air, but it is not the elements that are
worrying him. It is the real issues that he is facing at home.
Should he open the envelopes to see if he has an offer from a
college? How can he think of leaving town when the family business
seems to be going under? Then there is Adam, Quinn's dance partner.
How can he face his family with his secret?
Kemmerer has done it again in this story - an engrossing combination
of real life issues and paranormal weather. Readers will be blown
away by Nick's story. Nick's secret was revealed in a short novella,
Breathless, and Secret expands on the story. Nick has
never had any problems attracting girls, least of all Quinn, but
when he meets Adam he goes through a struggle realising that he is
gay and that he wants a relationship with Adam. However the dilemma
of how to come out to his family, especially his twin Gabriel, is a
fraught one for him. Kemmerer deals with this very sensitively and
takes the reader through the emotions and fears that a gay boy must
deal with. It is not at all an easy ride for Nick, who must decide
that he is the most important person in his own life and that he
can't always put other people first. Excellent writing makes Nick's
fears and his brother's and Hunter's reactions realistic with each
displaying strengths and weaknesses.
At the same time Kemmerer explores what it is like to be homeless
for Quinn, when her mother and her older brother both let her down
terribly. Quinn's problems are quite distressing for the reader and
she too has to decide that she is a person worthy of respect and
love. The introduction of Tyler as a character who may have a good
side to him is thought provoking as Nick has to come to terms with
what forgiveness means.
This book is a winner with its mix of real issues, the paranormal
and Nick's air element showing its strength against danger. A
fabulous conclusion has left me gasping for the next book in the
series.
Pat Pledger
Kissed by the moon by Alison Lester
Penguin, 2013. ISBN 9780670076758.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Influences. Growing up.
Opening a book by Alison Lester always thrills me. With her latest,
Kissed by the moon, she is able to capture a parent's wish for their
child to wonder at the world in which they have been born, to
experience the community and the environment, to splash in the
water, to experience the ocean, to hear the birds as they wake, to
walk in the untamed forest. Each page opens the child's mind to the
possibilities of what is around them, encouraging the parent to
ensure that the child is exposed to all the good things of life.
Lester's soft watercolours draw the eye to the detail of the images
she draws, as well as creating soft love filled pages, underscored
by the spare prose.
Each page shows a different environment and season, covering aspects
of the Australian climate, be it snow, spring produce, a sunny beach
or the falling leaves of autumn. Every picture is filled with the
safe secure arms of a parent, guiding the child to experience its
surroundings. The subtle subtext of caring for the environment is
there, in lines which assume the rivers, fish and oceans will still
be there, and the forests as wild.
Lester's talents with many different art forms along with her
ability to encapsulate meaning in a brief smattering of words, is
enough for anyone to gasp at the depth of her work, for parents to
smile with recognition and children to read for themselves the
wonder of childhood.
Fran Knight
Shadows by Robin McKinley
Puffin, 2013. Kindle edition. ISBN 9780141969534
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Magic. Maggie hates Val, her new
stepfather. He seems to be surrounded by strange shadows that no one
else can see. A refugee from Oldworld where magic is still used, he
just doesn't seem to quite fit into Newworld, where magic has been
banned and everything must have a scientific rationale. Maggie's
great grandmother had been a magician, but that was a long time ago
and anything that reeks of magic must now be hidden. Then Maggie
meets a gorgeous boy Casimir who is from Oldworld too, and together
with her friends Jill and Takahiro, and her dog Mongo, they face
shattering events and must rely on Val's help.
McKinley is an award winning author and the quality of her work
demonstrates both her creative writing skills and the wonderful
imagination that she brings to the worlds that she creates. She
doesn't write long series, most of her books are one-offs, and each
is very different, giving her fans, and I am one, something to truly
look forward to. Shadows is similar to her wonderful vampire book, Sunshine,
in that it has a familiar feel to the setting. Although Maggie's
world is quite different to ours, her family, her friends and her
work at the animal shelter make the reader feel comfortable while
taking in the ideas of magic being banned and strange shadows
stalking her stepfather.
McKinley's characters are beautifully rounded. Maggie is a great
character. The story is told in the first person by her and through
her observations the reader gets to know everyone really well.
Although she hates Val, she tries to hide this because her mother
loves him so much and her little brother adores him as well. Jill is
a trusty friend and Takahiro just blew my mind away. The romance is
low key but really satisfying. And of course, Mongo the dog and the
other dogs at the shelter are fully realised characters as well.
There is plenty of action both from the point of view of the
characters getting to know each other, and from facing the magical
elements. To write much more would be to give away the plot, but it
is riveting and I was left wishing that there was more to come. This
is one book that is on my re-read list, as are all the others that
McKinley has written. This will appeal to fans of Diana Wynne Jones
to whom the book is dedicated, and to readers who want a story with
unique world building and memorable characters.
Pat Pledger
City of monsters by D.C. Green
Monster School, bk 1. Ford St, 2013. ISBN 9781925000078.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended for capable readers. Fantasy. From
Ford St Publishing, comes D.C. Green's latest book for children, the
first in a new series. Now let me see... let's take some gnarly
grommets, angst-ridden kids with attitude, misfits of various
descriptions and some seriously divided peer groups and mix them all
together in a monster mash of hilariously epic proportions.
Enter PT aka Swamp Monster who turns up at Monster School and
somehow, almost by default, becomes part of the Dead Gang. Amidst
this incongruous group of oddballs (even by monster terms!) PT aka
the Heir Apparent of Monstro City is both intimidated and accepted
by a vampire, an abnormally huge spider, a zombie, a shape shifter,
a mummy, a troll and forest goblin - none of whom are 'accepted' by
the ruling class of Mafia goblins. After all, PT (Thomas Regus) is a
'hume', that is, a human and so far outside the norm of Monster
School as to be viewed in the normal scheme of things as... well,
basically... dinner!
With Monstro City being ruled by Lord Boron, both Regent and PT's
tutor, PT is stifled and appalled by his confinement to the dark
quarters of the Palace, his father and brother having disappeared
(amidst rumours of vampire intervention) and his mother in a strange
deep coma.
Rebelling against his everyday life - really? A teenager rebelling?
Go figure! - PT connives at an escape to Monster School to undertake
his own education regarding his kingdom with both extremely amusing
but also heroic results.
Readers, young and old, will recognise many students/young people,
with whom they have interacted and relish the humour and innate
sense of justice expressed through the characters and their actions.
Look out for the next instalment - this one will be a real winner
with both boys and girls. The characters are endearing, despite
their monstrous attributes and the reader becomes fully engaged with
the whole adventure - and who can resist a fully grown dragon?
Magnificent, dangerous and wise, Kalthazari completely dominates the
climax of the adventure and provides the segue to the next
instalment.
Highly recommended for capable readers from 10+ (the characters'
'voices' will need some careful reading).
Sue Warren
I love you night and day by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Ill. by Alison Brown. Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408839737.
(Age: Preschool-6) Recommended. Love.
A celebration of love, this picture book sends out a loud and heart
warming message about the power of love that a parent has for a
child:
'I love you wild, I love you loud.
I shout it out and I feel proud.
I love you night, I love you day.
In every moment come what may.'
Vivid colours bring the illustrations alive and are a perfect
complement to the story that just begs to be read aloud by a parent
who wants to reassure a child that he or she is well loved. It would
be an ideal present for parents and is sure to be a book that
becomes a favourite with both adult and child and is an ideal way
for both to express love.
I particularly enjoy books that extol the virtues of love and this
one could be paired with Sam McBratney's Guess how much I love
you and Margaret Wild's On the day that you were born.
Pat Pledger
Her Majesty's pleasure: A centenary celebration for Adelaide's theatre of the stars
Wakefield Press, 2013. ISBN 9781743052297.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Theatre. Adelaide History.
Presented in full colour illustrations in a large format book, this
history of Her Majesty's Theatre in Grote Street in the Adelaide CBD is
just a wonderful read. The author, Frank Van Straten has complied
the stories and history of the grand theatre from his amazingly
broad experience and collection, while doing extensive research to
make this a necessary companion to any study of Adelaide's theatre
scene as well as its architectural heritage. And so well written,
the stories of this marvelous theatre feel familiar and shout to be
recounted. From vaudeville days in the aptly named chapter, Act One,
when Stiffy and Mo trod the stage, with the likes of Lilli Gantrey
or Ada Reeve, or held plays such as The Mallee Root and The
Bushwoman, or encouraged patriotism with shows about ANZAC, the
theatre, then called The Tivolli was a proud part of Adelaide's
theatre-going population.
Each of the book's major sections, Act One and Act Two, are offered
in chronological listings of what happened through the years, the
date being the simple heading for each paragraph or two, making it
an easy book to dip into.
A foreword by Barry Humphries reiterates the importance of the
theatre and recalls his often quoted words that this theatre is his
favourite in Australia. These words are followed by an Overture and
Prologue, and the two chapters are rounded off with a section on The
Future written by the CEO of the Adelaide Festival Centre, Douglas
Gautier. The copious illustrations are amazing, not only detailing a
history of the theatre, but showing the changes in Adelaide as the
theatre went through its paces. It is a wonderful book for browsing,
for adding to the history of Adelaide and for making people look
again at this theatre in the heart of the city.
Fran Knight
Never fade by Alexandra Bracken
The darkest minds bk 2. Harper Collins, 2013. ISBN:
9780732294595.
(Age: 13+) The darkest minds never fade is a book formed
from an interesting concept and a very real possibility warped into
fantasy. A killer disease has swept through the children of America,
wiping out all but a small percent. Survivors are sent to camps to
be monitored by doctors and specialists who are working towards
finding a cure, but these children are no longer the kind to sit
quietly and wait and these camps are no longer the patient sort.
Survivors are quickly found to have talents, almost superpowers, and
are classed into categories based on their talents. Being children,
few escape their camps and even fewer live to tell the tale, but a
special few become involved with The Children's League, a society
formed for the purpose of freeing those frightened, abused children
from the camps and the clutches of madness. If nothing else this
book brings to light the very real issues of how a government could
choose to deal with this kind of mass mutation.
The book is based around the story of Ruby, ex-escapee of brutal
concentration camp, Thurmond, and current associate of The
Children's League. Something is wrong with The Children's League;
Alban is having a difficult time keeping his agents in line,
particularly those who despise the idea of being sent on missions
with Psi children such as Ruby and her team. After well orchestrated
'accidents' which resulted in the deaths of several Psi children
Ruby's team is sent on a renegade mission to find the lost research
of 'The Professor' and the key to curing the disease which caused
the mutations. Running into old friends along the way and going
through more than any child should ever have to go through, Ruby
races against the clock to stop the bad agents from corrupting
Alban's vision of freeing all the kids and returning the American
life to a (would be) normal state.
As this is the second book in the series I would recommend it for
teenagers and young adults. If nothing else it provides a range of
interesting concepts and makes you consider your place in the world.
Kayla Gaskell (Student)
Mouse bird snake wolf by David Almond
Ill. by David McKean. Walker, 2013. ISBN 9781406322897.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Picture book. Allegory. Creation. While the
gods sleep on high, exhausted after creating the world with all of
its variety, three children, Harry, Sue and Little Ben, wander the
earth, in awe of what they see. But there are gaps.
After a while, they experiment to see if they can fill the blank
spaces and so Little Ben imagines a mouse and creates it out of the
resources around him, willing it to life. Each of the children is
excited by this and Sue goes on to create a bird. The gods on high
see the bird and wonder at it, but return to their slumbers.
Then Harry dreams up a snake. He moulds it out of the clay on the
ground and wills it to life, offering the sorts of noises it will
make. But it proves less alluring than the bird and the mouse, and
the children are a little frightened of what has been created, and
baulk, while the snake slithers into a hole in the ground. But then
he creates a wolf.
An allegory for modern times, the story parallels the creation of
all we see, and in particular, the things we would prefer to have
been left out. Just like Pandora, the evil things brought into the
world astonish and bruise the children, but here, they are able to
revoke the wolf, although it still lurks beneath the earth. I love
the feel of the story, that people have created good things but also
some not so welcome. In the hands of an encouraging teacher or
parent, the discussions about what is good in the world could be
impressive. This could lead on to discussions about their
responsibility in making the world a safer place.
The illustrative techniques used are as different as the story,
inviting the readers to ponder why the illustrator has used this
style and discuss how the style parallels the story, giving it
a surreal edge.
Hints in both the story and illustrations, point to other stories,
building up a multi-layered effect, where readers can bring in other
stories they have heard. Moulding animals out of clay, the images of
the older boy taking up more room on the page as he creates the
snake and then the wolf, the gods on high resting in clouds, the
image of the snake as evil, and so on, all parallel other creation
stories from differing cultures which beg to be discussed.
Fran Knight
A breath of frost by Alyxandra Harvey
Lovegrove legacy, bk 1. Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408836354.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Paranormal. Witchcraft. Romance. Mystery. It
is 1814 and three cousins, Emma, Gretchen and Penelope discover that
the Lovegrove family have a legacy of magic. Amidst the splendour of
Regency balls and beautiful ballgowns, the Greymalkin Sisters come
prowling through the gates of the Underworld that Emma has
inadvertently opened. Debutante witches are murdered and Emma is
mysteriously drawn to their bodies, causing the Order of Keepers to
suspect her of murder.
The book opens with a bang as a young girl Moira clambers over the
rooftops of London and breaks into the house of a dead witch to
steal her glass eye. The exhilarating action continues on with the
introduction of Emma and her cousins at a ball where there is a
ghostly fire and a debutante is found dead. Here Emma discovers that
she has a heritage of magic and together with her cousins Gretchen
and Penelope they face danger, not just from the ghouls and
hellhounds and the Greymalkin Sisters but from members of the Order
who are afraid of their powers.
The Regency setting is fabulous, with its descriptions of dance
lessons, etiquette, ballrooms and gowns contrasting with Moira's
background of slums and thieving. The elements of magic including a
Woodcutter's son, a white stag and familiars for each of the
debutante witches, are cleverly written and build up an atmosphere
of enchantment. The battles between the creatures from the
Underworld and Emma's growing powers are enthralling.
Although the story is peopled with a vast array of characters,
including the three cousins, their mothers, fathers, girls at the
exclusive finishing school, Moira and Cormac, a Keeper who has no
magic, it is still easy to follow Emma's story. She grapples with a
mother who has gone mad to protect the cousins and her growing magic
powers. Her attachment to Cormac who seems to have lost interest in
her, provides food for the lovers of romance who won't be
disappointed.
Fans of Alyxandra Harvey won't be disappointed in this story of
clever heroines, magic and romance and will look forward to hearing
more about the Lovegrove legacy.
Pat Pledger
Little Red Riding Hood, retold by Alison Jay
Scholastic 2013. ISBN 9781742760711.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Fairy tales. The story of Red Riding Hood is
retold in this enticingly illustrated book from Scholastic. The
usual theme is there, being met by a wolf which then ties Grandma up
in the cupboard ready to eat Red Riding Hood when she arrives at
Grandma's house. Most children will know the story and be able to
predict what will happen along the way. A few changes from the
original are included: the wolf does not eat Grandma, and his end is
not as gruesome as others I have read. But it will entreat and
delight the readers and listeners, some even discussing the
differences between other versions.
The illustrations are a delight. With an old fashioned style, each
picture is overlaid with cracking as if the paint is much older than
it appears to be. The background village, the houses and their
insides and are all drawn in a much earlier age, giving the
impression of an age old story. And I loved the introduction of
other fairy tales in the setting. Kids will eagerly find references
to the Gingerbread House, the Gingerbread Man, Hansel and Gretel,
the Woodsman, the Three Little Pigs and so one peppering the
illustrations. Such fun.
Fran Knight
Losing Reuben by Leonie Norrington
Ill. by Beth Norling. Mates series. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN
9781742990224.
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Aboriginal themes. Family.
When Mum and Dad and the kids go fishing at One Mile Creek, Mum
counts the children as they have a large family. Even though Reuben
is number nine, he knows that he is as loved as everyone else. This
time however, Mum has had another baby.
While at One Mile Creek, Dad takes them fishing, showing the
children how to use the net to catch enough for the family for tea.
And this time, Reuben, the youngest is to be the anchor. He is
rather concerned. He has never done this before, and he is aware
that his small undeveloped frame may not be strong enough to hold
the net.
But it all goes well, and after a big feed, they all lie down for an
afternoon nap. Packing up, Mum counts them all in, one to nine but
halfway home, remembers Reuben, number nine and that she now has
ten. So back they go, finding Reuben where they left him, Reuben
taking note of the rules Dad has insisted they follow, to stay calm
and stay where they are. All is well.
In a few words, Leonie outlines this wonderful tale of a family on a
fishing trip. The closeness of the family is obvious all the way
through, their knowledge of the elders being passed on to the
younger, Dad teaching his children all the while some survival
skills.
One of the popular Mates series, this will be a wonderful
addition to any library.
Fran Knight
The thing about luck by Cynthia Kadohata
Simon & Schuster, 2013. ISBN 9781471116858.
(Age: Junior Fiction) Written by the well-known Newbery Award winner
of Kira-Kira, here is a vivid picture of life on the vast
wheat farms of the United States. Summer and her family have
recently suffered great misfortune and they are about to be tested
again. Summer's parents work for a custom harvesting company
in Kansas - such contracting exists in parts of Australia too - but
this year her mother and father must return to Japan to take care of
elderly relatives. Summer's maternal grandparents decide to come out
of retirement, with grandfather working as a combine driver and
grandmother as a cook, with Summer as her helper. Young brother Jaz
will come along too. It seems that the family is beset with further
bad luck as the hard and long working days begin. Summer is a
wonderful 'philosopher' - she mesmerises the reader with her
knowledge, intuition and wisdom. She informs us about the harvesting
process and includes her own little sketches of how things
work. She sets the scenes beautifully in the first person
narrative and identifies problems and consequences with assurance,
often with humour, and is a sheer delight to read about.
She assumes responsibility for a great deal, knowing that her
grandfather is struggling with the work, her grandmother continuing
to experience extreme back pain and her brother still unable to lift
his veil of invisibility. The weight of the world is on her
shoulders!
This book is charming on all levels - the location, the characters,
the experiences and the voice of Summer. Kadohata's storytelling
skill is extraordinary. Just enjoy this book!
Julie Wells
Two boys kissing by David Levithan
Text Publishing 2013. ISBN 9781922147486.
As always, I can only speak subjectively and for myself. I
understand and acknowledge that certain people will not only
understand but identify with this book, and I happen
to be one of those people.
A voice begins and ends this extraordinary novel - the voice of
experience, the voice of those who have lived and died. The book is
narrated by the chorus of a gay community past, victims of the AIDS
virus. Two boys kissing is a lurid and obvious title for so nuanced
and complex a work. It comprises of very contemporary and very
relevant stories about young gay men, detailing their relationships,
social lives and pressures.
If nothing, this is a profoundly accessible insight into modern gay
culture, but it is so much more. Another thing to note is how
curiously devoid of camp humour the novel is. The themes are
normalized and the characters remain beautifully, painfully human, a
welcome change from the often gaudy glamourization of same-sex
attracted characters.
The stark, nostalgic reminiscences from an anguished mass grave is a
bold choice, and there is a poignant balance between the regret of
the dead and celebration of love, a distinguished, discriminated,
powerful love. Two boys kissing is about much more than just two boys
kissing. It is a triumphant ode to the fighters who continue to
fight, a eulogy to a historic fatality. A celebration of boys who
kiss and have kissed boys, both furiously alive and long gone.
Henry Vaughan (Student)
